The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-30
HOW THEY MANAGED,
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
"Pack up your things as soon as you
please, nv dear" said Mr.. Chesney.
i.Wc're going to move on Saturday"
Mr.. and Mrs. Chesney were matrimo-
nial frm-therc was no question about
that-but Mrs. Chesney had always been
a silent partner in the same.
(ssIf ever get married." said Elma, a
bright-eyed girl of seventeen, 81 won't
be but upon as Mamma is" 'Papa is
regular dcspot-that's what papa is!' de-
cided Will, q tall STRIPPING of ifteen.)
sWhcre, my dear2" asked Mrs. Ches-
ney, with little start.
'Into the country" said the family au-
tocrat. 'Im tired of this city business.
It costs great deal more than 1t comes
to. I'm told you can live at half the ex-
pense in the country"
''But," gasped Mrs. Chesney, what
is to become of the children's educa-
tion3"
s.Taere's a very good district school in
the neighborhood, not more than q mile
distant.n explained her husband, 'tand
exercise win do them good"
ttAnd what are we to do for society,",
\ tPshawr' said Chesncy. II wouldn't
give rap for people who can't be society
sr themselves. Thorc'll be the house
* to do, you know-nobody keeps a
girl in the country-and plenty OF chores
about the place for Will and Spencer. l
shall keep q horse, if can get one cheap,
for the station is half mile from the
pla.e, and I've bargained for a couple OF
cows and some pigs"
VIII and Spencer looked askance at
each other.
"tqf do us good to walk mile to
school, /" muttered the elder; "but father
must have ashorse to carry him half mile
to the station"
'sThat's fathers logic all over" OBJ
served Spencer.
While MF-GGhheessacy -Ghesacy explained ttoo-Ais- to bis
wife the various advantages which were
to accrue from the promised move.
"Its unfortunate" said he, "that
Elma and Rosie aren't boys. Such lot
of women folks are enough to swamp any
family. Men, now, can always earn their
bread. But we must try to make every
body useful in some way or other. It's
so healthy, you know" added he. "And
the rent won't be half of what we pay
jaere.
"Are there any modern convenienccs
about the place 9'' timidly inquired Mrs.
Chesney.
"Therc's a spring of excellent water
about hundred yards from the house, y
said her husband.
Mrs. Chesncy grew pale.
"Have got to walk hundred yards
for every drop of water want 2" said
she. =,
"And a large rain-water hogshead
under the caves of the house." added Mr..
Chesney. "And I've already got a
bargain in kerosene lamps. As for candles,
am given to understand that the good
househeepers thereabouts make 'em them
selves in tin molds. There's nothing
like economy. Now do beg to know,
Abigail" he added, irritably, "what are
you looking so lackadaisical abouta Do
-ou expect to sit still and fold your
hands. while I do all the work 2 Give
me a woman for sheer natural lazi-
ness !"
~ am not lazy, George, said the poor
wife, with bewildered air; but-all
this is so new and strange at first. But
I'll try to get accustomed to it'll try
my very best"
Nevertheless, Rosie and Elma and their
mother shed many salt tear into the
trunks and packing-boxes, on top OF the
wooden blankets and rugs and piles of
domestic linen.
~ hate the country !" said Elma.
"rd as soon 60 to prison and done with
it,
"Oh, Ellie, don't talk So" said Rose.
"There are wild-roses and robins there,
lust as one sees on the painted plaques in
the store windows. And perhaps we can
have flower-bed, and some dear little
downy chickens y!
But the first sight of Mulleinstalk Farm
was dispiriting in the expreme. Between
rock and swamp, there was scarcely pas
ture for the two lean COWS that Mr.. Ches-
ney had bought at "a bargain" and the
hollow-backed horse, which stalked about
the premises like some phantom Bucepha-
tus.
The apple-trees in the orchard were
three-quaTters dead, and leaned sorrow-
fully away from the last winds, until their
boughs touched the very ground; the
fences were all gone to ruin, and the
front gate was tied UP with hemp
string.
sIs this home2" said Elma, with an
indescribable intonation in her voice.
"We'll get things all Strengthened up,
after awhile" said Mr.. Chesney, bustling
to drive away the pigs, who had broken
out of their pen and were squealing dis
mally under the window.
Mrs. Chcsney cried herself to sleep that
night, and awakened the next morning
with every bone instinct with shooting
pains. :,
"And no wonder" said Spencer.
There's foot of water in the cellar"
'We must have it Drained" said Mr..
Chesney, with an uneasy look; "but
there's plenty of things to do first"
And now began rel On of the strictest
economy. Mr. Chesney himself paid for
everything with checks, and not an arti-
Gle came into the house or came out Of it
without his coguizance. New dresses
were frowned upon; spring bonnets were
strictly interdicted; orders were issued
that old carpets should be reserved, and
broken dishes repaired with cement and
quicklime.